Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

New Road Bike ...Palms are Killing ME.....??

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

New Road Bike ...Palms are Killing ME.....??

Old 08-19-06, 10:08 PM
  #1  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
wrh_roger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
New Road Bike ...Palms are Killing ME.....??

Just got an 05' Specialized Sequoia off an auction ($500 , mint)and am trying to do fit work myself(yes, it's a money issue). This is my first drop bike in 20+ years and I like riding upright as I can get. I've got everything else dialed in but my hands and palms are killing me after just a mile or two.
I get the sense that most of my weight is on my arms and hands (I know that's not true , but there is too much weight on my bars).

Any ideas or sites that I can get some tips on self-sizing ?
wrh_roger is offline  
Old 08-19-06, 10:13 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
mechBgon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,957
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Inspect your seat angle. If it's nose-down, it's going to slide you towards the handlebars, making you push back with your... palms. Set the seat level, or even nose-up a little, and try it like that.
mechBgon is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 04:10 AM
  #3  
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: pasadena, ca
Posts: 16

Bikes: gary fisher

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Like me, the bike might be too big for you. I have the same issue, and I've come to realize that it doesn't matter if I change the seat angles or move it further up. I have even replaced the neck on the bike to try to get the handlebars closer to me, but my wrists still hurt. They don't hurt when I go a size down.
orangebang is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 05:04 AM
  #4  
Conquer Cancer rider
 
Boudicca's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Toronto
Posts: 6,039

Bikes: Fun bike, city bike, Bike Friday, Brompton (also fun bikes)

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Try consciously to relax your shoulders. Sometimes your shoulders tense up, and that seems to put more weight on your hands. Also make sure your elbows are not locked -- they should be nicely flexed. Sitting back a bit, or perhaps tilting the seat a notch, is a good idea as well. Persevere.
__________________
Zero gallons to the mile
Boudicca is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 05:58 AM
  #5  
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,942

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,511 Times in 1,027 Posts
Originally Posted by Boudicca
Try consciously to relax your shoulders. Sometimes your shoulders tense up, and that seems to put more weight on your hands. Also make sure your elbows are not locked -- they should be nicely flexed. Sitting back a bit, or perhaps tilting the seat a notch, is a good idea as well. Persevere.
Persevering in the hope that the pain gets bearable is one way. My way is to figure that the alleged benefits of dropped bars weren't worth the discomfort. Depends on how badly you want to be more efficient or look the look; and is it that important to you.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 07:16 AM
  #6  
On the big ring
 
deanp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lenexa, Ks
Posts: 851

Bikes: Trek 1100, Litespeed Catalyst

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
This weekend I switched from a slightly too small MTB that I was using as a road bike to a better fitting larger road bike. The MTB was a flat bar and the new bike is standard drop. I had the same problem as you on the old bike, but the new bike eliminated all of that for me. As the other people said work with adjustments, move your seat back and experiment with the angle. Also try some different bar heights, it is not an exact science but you can get it right. Last resort - go to the LBS and ask for help.
deanp is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 10:00 AM
  #7  
Senior Curmudgeon
 
FarHorizon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Directly above the center of the earth
Posts: 3,856

Bikes: Varies by day

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I agree with the poster who said that the frame may be too big for you. When a frame fits, you can ride along with zero (and I mean zero) pressure on your hands and wrists by applying the slightest tension to your lower back. Even when leaning forward, the pressure isn't painful.

If your frame is too large, though, you end up with a great deal of weight on your arms and wrists. This is because the seat is too far back. Changing the seat position ruins your pedaling efficiency, and usually still doesn't get enough weight off your wrists. The problem isn't the handlebars, it's the frame.

Even a two cm difference in frame size can be significant. I had a 58 cm frame that fit me perfectly and (not appreciating what I had), I sold it. The 60 cm frame that I got instead has never been anywhere near as comfy, despite numerous stem and seat changes.
FarHorizon is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 11:54 AM
  #8  
Time for a change.
 
stapfam's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: 6 miles inland from the coast of Sussex, in the South East of England
Posts: 19,913

Bikes: Dale MT2000. Bianchi FS920 Kona Explosif. Giant TCR C. Boreas Ignis. Pinarello Fp Uno.

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Originally Posted by FarHorizon
I agree with the poster who said that the frame may be too big for you. When a frame fits, you can ride along with zero (and I mean zero) pressure on your hands and wrists by applying the slightest tension to your lower back. Even when leaning forward, the pressure isn't painful.

If your frame is too large, though, you end up with a great deal of weight on your arms and wrists. This is because the seat is too far back. Changing the seat position ruins your pedaling efficiency, and usually still doesn't get enough weight off your wrists. The problem isn't the handlebars, it's the frame.

Even a two cm difference in frame size can be significant. I had a 58 cm frame that fit me perfectly and (not appreciating what I had), I sold it. The 60 cm frame that I got instead has never been anywhere near as comfy, despite numerous stem and seat changes.
Not only the frame size. I recently got a road bike after 15 years mountain biking and the only part I changed, after a couple of rides, was the bar stem. The one as standard was 70mms and I put on a 100mm. Yesterday I decided to try the original fitment stem and I am in pain today. Not only the hands but the back aches and the shoulders. Bike fit is important so look very closely at what works and do not change from that.
__________________
How long was I in the army? Five foot seven.


Spike Milligan
stapfam is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 02:56 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Montreal
Posts: 6,521

Bikes: Peugeot Hybrid, Minelli Hybrid

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Do some exercises to improve the stomach and shoulder muscles. The core body muscles should be holding your body over the cranks, not your arms and hands. Put your bars level with the seat. The distance from nose of saddle to bars should be equal to forearm from elbow to finger tips + width of hand across the knuckles.
AndrewP is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 07:53 PM
  #10  
Newbie
Thread Starter
 
wrh_roger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Great ideas ... I hate to think I've done all this shopping and got the wrong size. Such is life . But it's nice to hear that I shouldn't hurt . At least I don't have that much in this bike to kill me. I hate going to the LBS's because once I've paid, it's mine ... no returns .
wrh_roger is offline  
Old 08-20-06, 10:56 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
halfspeed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: SE Minnesota
Posts: 12,275

Bikes: are better than yours.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by wrh_roger
Great ideas ... I hate to think I've done all this shopping and got the wrong size. Such is life . But it's nice to hear that I shouldn't hurt . At least I don't have that much in this bike to kill me. I hate going to the LBS's because once I've paid, it's mine ... no returns .
A frame that is too small can also cause this kind of pain, so don't automatically assume you need a smaller frame. If it's too small, the drop from the saddle to the bars can be too much which puts more of your weight on your hands.
halfspeed is offline  
Old 08-21-06, 06:44 AM
  #12  
your god hates me
 
Bob Ross's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,571

Bikes: 2016 Richard Sachs, 2010 Carl Strong, 2006 Cannondale Synapse

Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1220 Post(s)
Liked 1,226 Times in 682 Posts
Originally Posted by wrh_roger
I hate going to the LBS's because once I've paid, it's mine ... no returns .
Ouch! Dude, get a new LBS, now!
Bob Ross is offline  
Old 08-21-06, 08:01 AM
  #13  
Banned.
 
Michigander's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,726

Bikes: Giant ATX 1200, Schwinn Peleton

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 437 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
My dad double wraps his handlebars on his roadbikes because he also has palm pain problems. Seems to work well for him.
Michigander is offline  
Old 08-21-06, 08:19 AM
  #14  
Arrgghh me hearties!
 
damian_'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 98

Bikes: Thorn Brevet, Felt, Europa, plus a million pieces of bikes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Are you wearing gloves? Good cycling gloves can protect the nerves running through your palms, and stop some pain/discomfort. This is more noticeable when you have a rough ride (thin high pressure tyres) or handlebars significantly lower than the saddle.
damian_ is offline  
Old 08-25-06, 09:22 PM
  #15  
Guayakill
 
rickhunter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Nueva York City
Posts: 54
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I had the same problem. my motobecane mirage road bike is a bit big for me, but i worked around it. I replaced the bar tape for cork tape and under it some padding. I wear good cycling gloves (do not get cheap ones - you'll be wasting yoour money) with gel padding... It really helps, my commute is only 45 min. each way, so I do not get sore, but when I go on longer rides I do feel some discomfort...
good luck!
rickhunter is offline  
Old 08-26-06, 12:30 AM
  #16  
jcm
Gemutlichkeit
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,423
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
I just bought a 61cm Sequoia Elite. Too big for me but I like the feel of a larger bike. It came with a 130mm stem but I have repeatedly gone back to the store and they have switched me out from a 110 to a 100 to a 90. The 90mm also has an 18 degree rise (the others were 14). Bingo - it's now all good. The hand pressure is pretty much gone. Not as good as my North Road bars, tho. The handling doesn't seem to have changed much. Besides, the Sequoia is not a 'crisp' handler anyway. You don't need your chin over the axle . It's all about going forward. Pretty relaxed.

If I were the OP, I'd still try to shorten that reach and take some weight off. Set the saddle level with the tops. Rotate the bars up a little so the hoods are level with the ground - not below the tops.
jcm is offline  
Old 08-28-06, 03:43 PM
  #17  
Geosynchronous Falconeer
 
recursive's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sacramento, CA
Posts: 6,312

Bikes: 2006 Raleigh Rush Hour, Campy Habanero Team Ti, Soma Double Cross

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Persevering in the hope that the pain gets bearable is one way. My way is to figure that the alleged benefits of dropped bars weren't worth the discomfort. Depends on how badly you want to be more efficient or look the look; and is it that important to you.
I don't know what the OP's particular problem is, but if you've got discomfort, you ain't doing it right.
__________________
Bring the pain.
recursive is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.